Spooling machine



pt- 1941- 2 E. VJ. HUBBARD 2,254,220

SPOOLING MACHINE 7 Filed Sept. 16, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 1 35 HUBBARD 'Sept. 2, 1941. E. J. HUBBARD SPOOLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZZZ EH DI 55 d. HUBBARD I Sept. 2, 1941. E. J. HUB BARD SPOOLINC' MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HZY'EntUI" 5235 d. HUBBARD Patented Sept. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPOOLING MACHINE Eber J. Hubbard, B'erwyn, Ill.

' Application September 16, 1939, Serial No. 295,168

15 Claims.

This invention relates to the spooling of material such as wire on stock spools from which he wire is to be unwound for application to electrical devices such as coils, the invention being particularly adaptable for spooling of comparatively fine wire from a reel, or for spooling of such wire as it comes from insulating machines in which insulating enamel or other insulating material is applied to the wire. In the spcoling of such fine wire, each layer must be evenly, uniformly and compactly wound and for the full length of the spool barrel in order to avoid piling or-sinking at the barrel ends and to Permit the wire to be readily unwound without tangling, sticking or breaking.

An important object of the invention is to produce a simple and efliclent machine for spooling wire on spools having either straight or tapered flanges, with wire. guiding or traverse means automatically controlled to cause uniform and compact winding of each layer and with the winding of each layer continuing accuratelyup to each spool flange before automatic reversal of the direction of travel of the traverse means.

A further object of the invention is to provide electrical means for controlling the reversal of movement of the traverse or wire guiding means,.

with the circuits for the electrical means controlled by quick operating or snap switches actu- .ated by a switch arm arranged to contact with the spool flanges for actuating the respective switches for reversal of the traverse means at the instant that the winding of layers has been completed up to the respective flanges.

A further object is to provide improved means operable coincidentally with the traverse reversing means for adjusting for the speed of ro-' tation of the spool in accordance with its increased wire diameter for the next layer so that the speed of feeding of the wire to the spool will remain constant.

Still a further object is to provide an arrangement in which the electrical means which controls the reversal of the traverse means will also control the setting for the proper rate of rotation of the spool with increasing diameter of the wire mass thereon. a

The invention also includes other features of construction, arrangement and operation, and all the various features-of the invention are embodied in the structure shown on the drawings, in which drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of a machine unit;

Figure 2 is a section on. plane IIII of Figmechanism in idle Figure is a plan view of the traverse mechae nism and, spool, with part of the traverse frame broken away.

The various operating and control elements of the machine are mounted on and supported by the frame A. A spool supporting shaft or spin die i0 extends laterally through the frame and is journalled in a bearing enlargement I i on the left wall l2 of the frame, and in a bearing bracket ll secured to the right end of the frame. The spindle is held against axial movements as by collars I4 and I5 secured to the spindle and abutting the opposite sides of the bearing ll. The left end portion of the shaft is of reduced diameter to receive spools B which are to be wound, the spools seating against the shoulder ii of the shaft and being secured against rotation 'on the spindle by set screw or other meansv well known in the art.

Suitable drive means for rotating the spool for the winding'ope'ration may be provided. As shown, friction drive is provided comprising a friction disk l1 within the frame A whose hub 90 I8 receives the spindle I0 between the bearing I l and the framewall iii. A drive gear 20 having the hub 2| is secured to the disk hub ill to rotate therewith and by means such as a key 22,-

spindle l0 and is iournalled at its front end in the rear part of the bearing enlargement ll and at its rear end inthe rear wall 24 of the housing, the shaft in back of the wall mounting a transmission gear 25 which meshes with the transmission gear 28 on a shaft 21 driven throughsuitable reduction gearing by an electric motor 0, which motor may be supported on a bracket 28 secured to the frame wall 24.

The shaft 23 carries a key 29 extending longitudinally thereof for receiving the friction drive wheel I0 and its hub 30', the wheel 39 being'engageablewith the disk I! to effect rotation thereof and being slldable on the shaft 23 for engagement with-the disk at varying radial distances from-i? disk axis, for control of the speed of-i'otfion of the spool. Above and par ailel with the shaft 23 Iss. screw shaft 3| journalled at its front end in the frame wall l2 and at its rear end in the frame wall 24. A shift structure receives the threaded shaft 3| and comprises the body 32 having an unthreaded passageway for the screw shaft, and a top or cap member 33 engaging in the recess 34 in the body 32 and being threaded for threaded engagement with the upper portion of the screw shaft so that when the screw shaft is turned, the shift structure will be sh fted along the shaft. The shifter body 32 has a downwardly extending arm 35 which is bifurcated to engage in the circumferential channel 36 in the hub 30 of the friction drive wheel 30, so that when the shift structure is shifted longitudinally'upon turning of the shaft 3|, the drive wheel 30 will be shifted radially relative to thefriction disk l'l.

Provision is made for releasing the shift structure from the screw shaft 3! for manual adjustment of the friction wheel 30 relative to the disk. As shown, posts 31 extend upwardly from ledges 38 on the shifter body part 32 and through extension 39 on the cap 33, with springs 40 interposed between the projections and abutments 4| such as nuts on the threaded ends of the posts. A rod 42 may extend upwardly from the cap 33 for raising of the cap to disconnect it from the screw shaft so that the shift structure may then be shifted manually on the screw shaft independently of turning of the shaft. During operation of the machine, the springs will hold the cap in threaded engagement with the screw shaft for shifting movements of the shifter structure along the shaft when the shaft is turned.

Referring to Figure 1, the gear 24 which rotates with the friction disk i'l, meshes with a gear 43 on a counter shaft 44 'journalled in the walls 46 and 46 of the frame A for driving adjusting and control means to be. described later.

For effecting proper frictional engagement of the disk with the friction drive wheel 30, a spring 45' is provided whose one end receives the hub 2| of the gear 20 and whose other end abuts a sleeve 46' on the spindle l between the frame walls i9 and the bearing bracket 13. The spindle has a pin 41 extending therefrom into the L-shaped or bayonet slot 43 in the sleeve 43'. When the machine is in operation, the pin engages in the outer portion of the slot to hold the sleeve inwardly for compression of the spring '5 to hold the disk I! with friction engagem' at against the drive wheel 30. When the sleeve 44' I forwardly from a hub 52 adiustably and detachis turned for engagement of the pin in the other a portion of the slot, the spring pressure against the disk is relieved so that the disk may be freely rotated relative to the drive wheel. when the spring pressure is relieved, the disk may be readily shifted toward the right for complete dis.- engagement from the drive wheel 33 and for displacement of the gear 20 from. the gear 43, so that the disk will then be entirely free for rotation without moving any other element. A spacer sleeve 49 may be provided on the spindle II between the gear hub 2| and the spring setting sleeve 46' for limiting the disconnection movement of the disk and gear assembly toward the right, the sleeve 43' after rotation for engagement of the pin 41 in the longitudinal portion of the slot 43, abutting against the bearing bracket l3. A passageway 54 is provided in the frame wall 19 for passage of the spring and of the sleeve 49 encircled thereby.

Describing now the traverse or wire guiding mechanism, this comprises an arm 5| extending ably secured, as by a set screw 53, to the outer end of the traverse shaft 54 This shaft is journalled at its outer end in a bearing 55 secured to the frame wall II by the nut 55". The shaft is also supported and journalled by the frame wall 45. At its inner portion the shaft is threaded and is engaged by the threaded sleeve or nut 56 which is journalled in the frame wall 46 for rotation but held against axial movement. Upon rotation of the screw nut 53, the traverse shaft 54 will be shifted axially to move or to shift the traverse arm 5! in a direction parallel with the axis of the spool B to be wound.

The traverse arm is guided by an L-shaped guide frame 51 whose rearwardly extending arm terminates in a hub 54 receiving the bearing 55 so that the guide frame maybe swung relative to the traverse shaft 34. The. front laterally extending leg of the guide frame has the arm 53 extending forwardly therefrom and at its end Journals a roller 50 for engaging with the wire on the spool, whereby the. guide frame is supported at its front end. The laterally extending leg of the guide frame provides the guideway II for the traverse arm which at its end journals a grooved guide wheel 82 for guiding the wire which is to be wound on the spool as the traverse arm moves longitudinally of the spool. The guide frame will hold the traverse arm with the wire guide wheel at the proper distance above the wire on the spool, the guide frame, by the engagement of its roller 63 with the wire, being gradually swung upwardly as layer after layer of wire is applied to the spool. To give a slight steadying tension to the wire in advance of the guide wheel 62, the wire may be passed between felt pads 43 supported in a holder 64'mounted on the front end of the traverse arm.

When not in service, the guide frame with the traversev arm thereon may be swung upwardly and rearwardly against the rear wall 24 of the frame A. A clip 45 secured to the traverse arm is deflected to extend around the guide leg of the guide frame with its end 65' below the guide 'leg so that when the guide frame is swung back to out of service position, the traverse arm will be held against swinging away from the guide frame.

Describing now the means for controlling the reciprocation of the traverse mechanism, a clutch shaft 48 is Joumalled at its ends in the walls 45 and 48 of the frame'A below the shifter shaft 54. On this clutch shaft are two cylindrical clutch bodies 31 and 31' which are secured in any suitable manner against axial movement on ,the shaft but free to rotate thereon. Mounted on the adjacent inner ends of the clutch bodies are beveled gears 33 and 33' respectively which mesh with a driving beveled gear 43 secured to the rear end of a cross shaft 14 which is Journalled in the walls 'II and 12 forming part of the frame structure A. Between these walls a worm wheel or gear 13 is secured on the shaft, this gear meshing with the worm pinion I4 on the shaft 44 which is driven by the friction disk i1 through the gears 24 and 43. Upon rotation of the shaft ll,v the beveled gear 43 will rotate the clutch ladies in opposite directions on the clutch shaft Splined to the clutch shaft to shift axially thereon but to rotate therewith are clutch disks 15 and 15', the clutch disk 15 having'clutch teeth 14 on its inner face for engagement with clutch disk has the clutch teeth 16' for engagement with'the clutch teeth H on the clutch body 61'.

The clutch disks have respectively the circumferential grooves 18 and I8 for receiving the bifurcated arms 19 and I9 extending forwardly from the clutch shifting frame 80, this frame being shiftable on guide rods 8I and 82 extending between the frame walls 45 and 48, as clearly shown on Figure 2.

The lower guide rod 82 receives guide sleeves 83 extending from the shifter frame,'these sleeves at their inner ends providing abutments for the forked end of a shift lever 84 extending downwardly and pivoted intermediate its ends on a pin 85 supported by a bracket 88 secured to the frame rear wall 24, the shift lever at its lower end being connected with shift controlling means which, as shown, comprises solenoid structures. On Figu e 2 the solenoid structure is shown more or less diagrammatically. It comprises two magnetic field frames 81 and 81 supportedby brackets 88 mounted on the rear wall 24 of the sup-.

porting frame. The solenoid cores or armatures 89 and 89' are shiftable in the frames and are connected by a bar 90 to which the shift lever 84 is pivoted at its lowerend as by a pin 9I. The frames have the energizing coils I92 and I92 relative to which the ar'matures shift. With the arrangement shown, when the coil I92 is energized. the armature 09 will be attracted and the armature structure will be shifted toward the left for swing of the shift lever 84 to shift the clutch shifter frame 80 toward the right for clutch engagement of the clutch disk I5 with the clutch body 01 and for disengagement of the clutch disk I5 from the clutchbody 61', so that the clutch shaft will be turned in one direction by the beveled gear I59. When the coil I92 is energized, the armature structure will be shifted toward the right which will result in shift of the shifter frame for clutching engagement of the clutch body 61 to the clutch shaft for drive of the shaft in the opposite direction.

Outside of the frame wall 48, the clutch shaft 88 has secured thereto a gear 92. On a stub shaft 93 extending from the frame wall 48 are Journailed a small gear 94 and a larger gear 95, the gears being secured to rotate together, the smaller gear meshing with the clutch shaft gear 92.

The larger gear 95 is meshed by a gear pinion 98 which is mounted on the screw nut 50 which receives the threaded end of the shifter shaft 54 for the traverse mechanism. The setting of the reversing means or clutch structure by the solenoids thus determines the direction of rotation of the clutch shaft and thereby the direction of turning of the traverse mechanism shift 'shaft driven from the clutch-shaft by the gearing assembly described. To yieldably hold the clutch shifter frame 80 in either of its set positions, suitable braking means is provided. As shown, a spring arm 9! mounted on the frame rear wall 24 carries a pin 98 beveled at its outer end for cooperation with the beveled end of an abutment 99 on the shifter frame 80. After setting of the clutch structure to either of its clutching positions, the end of the pin engages behind the abutment to yieldably hold the shifter frame in its set position.

Describing now the automatic control of the solenoid structure for reversals of the traverse mechanism, the switch mechanism for control of the solenoid circuits is mounted on the traverse or wire guide arm structure. Against the under. side of the traversearm 5| is a switch actuating lever I00 fulcrumed-intermediate its ends on a pin IOI depending from the traverse arm 5| at a point behind the lateral arm of the guide frame 51. The front end portion of the traverse arm is inclined downwardly as best shown on Figure 4, and the front end portion of the lever I00 is also inclined downwardly to terminate behind the wire guide wheel 02, the end I00 of the levers being rounded for cooperation with the flanges of the spool which is being wound. The rear end of the lever I00 carries a sleeve I02 for supporting switch actuating members shown in the form of disks I03 and I03 having threaded stems I04 threading into the sleeve ends so that th actuating members may be adjusted.

The traverse arm 5| at its rear end carries a supporting frame I05 on its upper side, to the underside of which frame and at opposite sides of the rear end of the lever I00, are secured switch structures D and B. These switches are preferably of the quick acting or snap action type and may be switches such as disclosed in McGall Patent No. 1,960,020 dated May 22, 1934. On Figure 5 a switch blade I06 and a contact I01 are indicated in dotted lines in each of the switch structures. On each of the switch structures, a circuit terminal I00 is connected with the fulcrum end of the switch lever and a ter- I09 and I03 on the actuating lever I00 so that when the lever is swung in one direction the push rod of one of the switches will be shifted in for closing of the switch, and when the lever is swung in the opposite direction, the push rod of the other switch is shifted in for closing of V such switch.

On Figure 2 are shown the circuit connections between the switch structures and the solenoid structure. The current supply source may, as shown, be a battery E, or the source may be a commercial supply circuit. The terminals III and II I of the solenoid windings I92 and I92 respectively, are connected together by a conduc-. tor II2 which connects with one terminal of the supply source E. The other terminal of the source is connected through a switch H3 with the conductor II4 which connects with the terminals I09 of the switch structures D and D.

The terminal iii of the solenoid coil I92 is connected by conductor II8 with the terminal .I08

of the switch structure-B and the terminal 5' I of the solenoid coil I92 is connected by conductor III with the terminal I08 of the switch structure D;

A spool to be wound is mounted on the spindle I0 and the end of the wire W to be wound thereon is secured to the spool, the wire engaging in the guide wheel 62. The .wire may be fed from a reel, or directly from an insulating machine where insulating material such as enamel, is applied to the spool. In advance of the spooling machine, the wire is engaged by tensioning means for maintaining a constant tension on the wire so that the winding on the spool will be uniform and even. Tensioning means has not been shown, as it may be of any well known construction. The pads'63 of felt or other material through which the wire passes in advance of theguide wheel 62 merely pro- -rotation of the theaded shifter shaft, the speed of rotation being set by the gearing assembly at the right of the machine between ,the clutch shaft and the shifter shaft. When a wire of different diameter is to be wound, the proper gearing assembly will be provided for the proper shifting speed.

n the drawings, the traverse mechanism is shown close to the end of its outward movement with the last wire layer about to be completed up to the outer flange of the spool. The spool shown is of the taperedflange type, and while the traverse arm 5| is reaching the outerend of its shifting movement for completion of the wire layer, the end I00 of the switch actuating lever I00 is engaging with the spool outer flange and is being swung toward the right for engagement of the switch actuating abutment I03 with the switch button IIO of the switch structure D, and as soon as the wire has fully completed the winding layer up to the outer flange, the switch D will be closed for closure of the circuit through the solenoid coil I92, the circuit being from the current source E, through the switch H3, conductor Ill, terminal I09 of the switch structure D, the switch blade I06, the switch terminal I08, the conductor Ill, and through the solenoid coil I92 back to the source. The solenoid armature structure will then be shifted toward the right (Figure 2) and the shift lever 84 will be swung for shifting the shift frame 80 for setting of the clutch structure to reverse the rotation direction of the clutchshaft and, through the gearing assembly at the right end of the machine, to reverse 'the direction of rotation of the shift shaft 54 and the traverse structure will then be shifted toward the right for applying the next layer. When the wire approaches the inner flange of the spool for completion of the layer, the switch actuating lever I00 will be engaged by the flange and will be swung for closure of the switch structure D, the switch structure B being then opened, and the solenoid coil I92 de-energized. The solenoid coil 92 will be connected in circuit,'the circuit being from the source E through conductor II4, the closed switch structure D, the conductor II 6, and the solenoid coil I92 and back to the source. The solenoid armature structure will then be shifted to the left and the clutch mechanism will be set for reversal of rotation of the shift shaft 54 and the traverse mechanism again .moved toward the left for application of the next layer. Thus at each end of a winding, as soon as the winding layer has been fully completed up to the corresponding spool flange, the direction of shift of the traverse mechanism will be reversed, and as the wire layers are accurately and fully completed, and the traverse direction is reversed directly after such completion, there can be no piling of wire at the flanges or spaces left in which wires may sink. The use of the type of quick acting switch referred to, assures reversal of traverse direction at the completion of each wire layer on the spool. The roller 00 on the guide frame for the traverse structure engages the wire on the spool so that the wire guide wheel 02 and the end of the switch actuating lever I00 are maintained in proper relationship relative to the spool flanges for proper reversal of traverse direction at the proper time.

For efficient winding, the speed of travel of the wire to the spool, as well as the wire tension, should be kept constant. The constant travel speed of the wire is particularly necessary where the wire comes to the spooling machine directly from the insulating machine through which the wire must travel at a constant rate for proper application of the insulation material thereto. Provision is therefore made for automatic adjustment of the spool driving means for decreasing the circumferential rotation speed thereof in accordance with the increasing diameter of the wire load thereon after each layer is applied. Such driving speed regulation is accomplished at the end of each winding layer by shifting of the driving wheel 30 to increase its distance thereof from the axis of the drive disk I I in accordance with the diameter of the wire being wound. Such adjustment for spool drive is coincident with reversal of travel of the traverse mechanism and is controlled by the solenoid structure. On the clutch shifter frame 80, which is operated by the solenoid mechanism, a bar H0 is secured which extends through a guide passageway II! in the frame wall 45. On the end of this bar upper and lower ratchet arms I20 and I2I are pivoted at their inner ends, the opposed faces of the arms being provided with ratchet teeth I22 and I23 respectively for receiving between them and engaging with a ratchet wheel I24 secured to the screw shaft 3i with which the supporting structure for the friction drive wheel 30 has threaded engagement. A spring I25 yieldably holds the arms in engagement with the ratchet wheel. The bar H8 is shifted to the left or right with the clutch shifter frame for shifting of the clutch members for reversal of travel of the traverse mechanism. As clearly shown on Figure 2, the teeth I22 on the arm I20 are inclined for cooperation with the teeth on the ratchet wheel I24 to rotate the screw shaft 3| in clockwise direction when the bar H0 is shifted toward the right, while the teeth on the arm I2I are inclined for cooperation with the ratchet wheel to effect rotation of the screw shaft in the same direction when the bar is shifted toward the left. When one of the arms cooperates with the ratchet wheel for turning thereof, the ratchet wheel teeth will engage with the inclined faces of the teeth on th other arm without meshing engagement and after each reversal both arms will act as detents to lock the screw shaft in adjusted position. The screw shaft will thus be set coincidentally with operation of the clutch mechanism by the solenoids for shift reversal of the traverse mechanism, and the setting rotation of the screw shaft is in such direction that the friction drive wheel supporting structure engaging the shaft will be shifted radially outwardly for increasing the contact distance of the driving wheel from the friction disk axis for reduction in rotation drive of the spool in accordance with the diameter of the wire so that the speed of travel of the wire to the spool will be maintained constant. For eflicient compact winding with constant speed of wire feed, the wire turns should be close together and the number of turns per inch should remain constant. At the beginning of each layer, the circumferentiai length per turn is increased and consequently the traverse speed Should be reduced correspondingly so that the number of turns per inch will be maintained. In the structure disclosed, where the friction disk hub is connected through a transmission train with the traverse shifting shaft 54, slower drive of friction disk I! by the drive wheel 30 for slower rotation rate of the spool will also cause slower drive of the traverse shifting shaft, and the transmission train is so designed that the speed of the travverse will always be such that the same number of turns per inch will be maintained. When wire of a different diameter is to be wound, a screw shaft of 'diflerent' threading pitch could be sub.- stituted, or another ratchet wheel of the proper diameter could be applied on the screw shaft.

n the machine a spool with tapered flanges is shown but spools with straight flanges can be wound with equal efficiency. For straight flange spools, the traverse arm ii and the switch actuating lever lllli would be shaped so that the wire would be accurately guided up to the flanges for evenly wound complete layers, and for cooperation of the switch actuating lever with the flanges at the proper time for traverse reversal at the completion of a winding layer.

As the traverse mechanism is adjustable on the shift shaft 54, it may be set for winding spools of diiferent standard barrel lengths. The machine will automatically-take care of variations in distance between spool flanges at any point thereof during winding so that traverse reversal and spool drive speed adjustment will be effected at the proper time to assure straight evenly wound layers without piling or sinking at the flanges and for rotating the spool, traverse means for guiding wire to the spool, reversible driving-means for said traverse means for effecting reciprocation thereof, speed adjusting means for said spool driving means, and electrical means conjointly controlled by said traverse means and the spool to be eifective at the end of each wound layer to coincidentally control the reversal of said traverse means and the speed adjustment of said spool driving means for winding of the next layer.

3. spooling mechanism for spooling wire under constant tension and speed of travel of the wire, comprising a support for a flanged spool, driving means for rotating the spool, reciprocable traverse means for guiding the wire for winding on the spool, reversing means for said traverse means, and electrical means controlled by the spool flanges for coincidentally causing reversal of the traverse means and adjustment of the driving speed of said driving means for the spool at each end of a winding layer so that complete winding of each layer up to the respective flange will result and rotation speed of the spool for winding of the next layer will correspond tothespeed of wire travel.

4. A spooling machine for spooling wire under constant tension and travel speed of the wire,

when a spool has been completely wound the wire assembly would individually control its traverse mechanism and spool driving speed in accordance 'with the type or nature of spool to be wound by such unit assembly and therefore even and compact winding of every one of the spools would be assured.

I have shown a practical and eilicient embodiment of my invention but I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction, arrangement and operation shown and described as changes and modifications maybe made without depart ing from the scope of the invention.

I claim as follows:

l. A wire spooling machine comprising a support for a spool to be wound, driving. means adjustable for rotating said spool at reduced speed after winding of each layer thereon, traverse means shiftable to guide wire for winding on said spool, reversible drive means for said traverse means, solenoid means controlling the adjustment of said spool rotating means and the reversing of said traverse drive means, electrical circuits for said solenoid means, and switch means carried with said traverse means and cooperable with the spool flanges for controlling said circuits for operation of said solenoid means to effect reversal of the drive means for the traverse means and to efiect adjustment of the spool driving means for reduced speed of rotation of the spool at the-end of each winding layer.

2. A wire spooling machine for spooling wire under a constant tension and speed of travel of the wire, comprising a spool support, drive means comprisinga spool support, drive means for the spool, traverse means for guiding the wire to the spool, reversing means for the traversing means, adjusting means for the spool drive to maintain constant speed of travel of the wire to the spool,v and electrical means controlled by the distance between the spool flanges for each layer being wound, for causing-coincidental operation of the reversing means and the drive adjusting means and with such operation occurring only aftereach layer has been fully completed up to the corresponding spool flange.

'5. A spooling machine comprisinga support for a spool to be wound, driving means for rotating the spool, adjusting means for adjusting the speed, of said driving means, traverse means for guiding to the spool the material to be wound thereon, reversing means for the traverse means, a common electrical means for operating said adjusting means and the reversing means, switch means for said electrical means, and switch actuating means movable with said traverse means and cooperable with the inner faces of the spool flanges for setting said switch means for operation of said adjusting means and the reversing means by the electrical means only at the full completion of a winding layer up to the corresponding spool flange.

6. A spooling machine for spooling wire under constant tension and travel speed of the wire,

comprising a spool support, drive means for the spool, traverse means for guiding the wire to the spool, reversing means-for the traversing means, adjusting means for the spool drive to maintain constant speed of travel of the wire to the spool; and means controlled by the distance a between the spool flangesfor each layer being wound for causing coincidental operation of the reversing means and the drive adjusting means and with such operation occurring only after each layer has been fully completed up to the corresponding spool flange.

7. A spooling machine for spooling wire under I constant tension and travel. speed of the wire,

shiftable on said drive shaft for drive of said disk at different speeds, shifting means for shifting said drive wheel, traverse means for guiding wire to a spool on said spindle, a transmission train between said disk and said traverse means including reversing means for reversing the direction of travel of said traverse means, electromagnetic means for effecting coincidental operation of said reversing means and said drive wheel shifting means, electrical circuits for said electromagnetic means, and switch means for said circuits controlled by said traverse means and the spool flanges to effect operation of said electromagnetic means at the end of each winding layer on the spool for reversal'of the traverse means and adjustment for reduction in driving speed of said disk by said driving wheel.

8. A spooling machine for spooling wire under constant tension and travel speed of the wire,

comprising a spindle for supporting a spool to be wound, a shiftable shaft, a traverse structure mounted on said shaft to shift therewith for guiding wire to the spool to be wound, a friction disk keyed to said spindle, a drive shaft, a friction drive wheel for said disk adjustable on said .drive, shaft for drive of said disk at different speeds, a screw shaft, adjusting means on said screw shaft for said friction drive wheel, a transmission gear train between said disk and said traverse structure shifting shaft and including reversing means, a setting frame for said reversing means, electro-magnet means for operating said setting frame, electrical circuits for said electro-magnet means, switch means for said circuits controlled by said traverse means and the spool flanges for operation of said electro-magnet means for setting of said setting frame and reversing means for reversal of shift of said shiftable shaft at the end of each wire layer wound on the spool, and means operable by said setting frame for rotation of said screw shaft and adjustment of said friction drive wheel for reduced speed drive of said disk for the next wire layer to be wound on the spool.

9. A spooling machine for spooling wire under constant tension and travel speed of the wire, comprising driven means for rotating a spool to be wound, a drive means for the driven means adjustable for changing the driven speed of said driven means, traverse means for guiding wire to the spool, a driving train between said driven means and said traverse means including reversing means, and electrical means controlled by the distance between the spool flanges for each layer being wound for causing coincidental operation of the reversing means and adjustment of the drive means at the end of each layer wound on the spool.

10. In a spooling machine for spooling wire under constant tension and travel speed of the wire, a spool support, drive means for the spool, traverse means for guiding wire to the spool, reversing means for the traverse means, adjusting means for the spool drive to maintain constant speed of travel of the wire to the spool, and electrical means controlled by the distance between the spool flanges for each layer being wound for causing operation of the drive adjusting means only after each winding layer has been fully completed up to the corresponding spool flange.

11. A spooling machine for spooling wire under constant tension and travel speed of the wire, comprising driving means for rotating the spool,

means for adjusting the speed of said driving means, traverse means for guiding wire to the spool, reversing means for the traverse means.

electro-magnetic means for controlling said speed adjusting means, a circuit for said electro magnetic means, and switch means carried by said traverse means and cooperable with the inner faces of the spool flanges for control of said circuit for operation of the speed adjusting means by said electro-magnetic means only at the full completion of a winding layer up to the corresponding spool flange for reduced speed of rotation of the spool for the next winding layer.

12. A spooling machine for spooling wire under constant tension and travel speed of the wire, comprising a support for a spool to be wound, driving means adjustable for rotating said spool at reduced speed after winding of each layer thereon, traverse means shiftable to guide wires for winding on said spool, reversible drive means for said traverse means, solenoid means controlling the adjustment of said spool rotating means and the reversing of said traverse drive means, electrical circuits for said solenoid means, quick acting snap switch structure on said traverse means for said circuits, and a switch lever on the traverse means cooperable with the spool flanges for actuating said switch structure for control of said circuits and operation of said solenoid means to effect reversal of said reversible drive means and adjustment of said spool driving means for reduced speed only after each layer has been fully completed up to the corresponding spool flange.

13. A wire spooling machine of the class described comprising a spool supporting spindle, traverse means for guiding wires to the spool, driven means on said spindle connected therewith to effect rotation thereof, driving means normally engaged by said driven means, a driving train normally connected with said driven means and adapted when driven to efiect reciprocation of said traverse means, and means whereby said driven means may be shifted to be disengaged from said driving means and said transmission train.

1 4. A wire spooling machine of the class described comprising a spool support, traverse means, reciprocating means for reciprocating said traverse means for guiding wire to the spool, a common drive means for rotation of said spool and operation of the reciprocating means, adjusting means for said driving means, and electrical means controlled by the distance between spool flanges for setting said adjusting means at the end of each winding layer for reduced rate of spool rotation and corresponding reduced speed of reciprocation of said traverse means for the next winding layer.

15. A wire spooling machine comprising a support for a spool to be wound, driving means ad- 

